X I I I

under
the low
yellow
moon -

desperate men stand
on empty highways
in the dark
holding their guns
and smoking
their cigarettes

under
the low
yellow
moon -

a jealous girl
steals the necklace
of a pregnant woman
and takes it
to the witch doctor

under
the low
yellow
moon -

wounded
street dogs
sit in the alleys
waiting
for plates
of cow fat

under
the low
yellow
moon -

a newlywed
pretends to sleep
hoping that her
husband will not
touch her

under
the low
yellow
moon -

a drunk man
sits in the back
of a yellow taxi
zoning out and
thinking about
the blood that
came from her
mouth

under
the low
yellow
moon -

nightclubs
collect dirty cash
and demons
hide in the walls
as they watch
the fists exchange
over bad women

under
the low
yellow
moon -

romantic declarations
are given in
small rooms
with no electric
and devout men
dissolve
as temptations
prevail

under
the low
yellow
moon -

motherless boys
look into windows
and watch women
they do not know
undressing

under
the low
yellow
moon -

we look at pictures
of ourselves
in days past
with people
we no longer
talk to

under
the low
yellow
moon -

stomachs
are filled with
spirits
and spirits
talk to us

under
the low
yellow
moon -

a force
that we cannot
begin to name
wages war
inside
the hearts
of us
all

© tobiaskinti